Disposable toothbrush



May 28, 1957 H. w. M WHORTER 2,793,381

DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH Filed May 24, 1955 INVENTOR. HAROLD W. ill/02752 U i ed W8 P e t DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH Harold W. McWhorter, South Miami, Fla.

Application May 24, 1955, Serial No. 510,616

3 Claims. (Cl. 15 -136) The present invention relates to a toothbrush for a single use and one having means for ejecting a single charge of a dentifrice material into the bristles of the toothbrush.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a single use, disposable toothbrush having a single charge of dentifrice contained in a chamber adjacent the bristles of the brush and having a means for ejecting the dentifrice into the bristles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable toothbrush of sturdy construction which may be manufactured and assembled at such low cost as to make it feasible to furnish such brushes along with soap and towels in hotels, motels, and on ships, railroads, aircraft, and elsewhere, Where the carrying and use of a conventional toothbrush which is difiicult to dry between uses is undesirable.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the toothbrush of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an end sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a side sectional view of one end of the toothbrush showing the diaphragm moved into the dentifrice supply chamber by the application of squeezing pres sure to the walls of the tube, forcing the dentifrice into the tufts of the bristles.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the present invention consists of a disposable toothbrush, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, comprising a hollow tube 11 fabricated of a flexible material such as nonrigid plastic, rubber, or the like, and having one end 12 open and having the other end closed. A flexible diaphragm 13, also fabricated of a like material, is positioned within the tube 11 inwardly of the end 12 and closing the tube at that point, the diaphragm having its boundary engaging or contacting the annular rib 13 formed on the inner wall of the tube 11.

A plug 14 is supported within the tube open end 12 and has one end 15 adjacent the diaphragm 13. A recess 16 having a tapering wall is provided in the end 15 of the plug 14 extending inwardly of the end 15 and terminating adjacent the other end 17 of the plug. A dispensing orifice 18 extends inwardly of the plug end 17 and communicates with the recess 16 at the inner end of the latter. The recess 16, together with the diaphragm 13, forms a chamber for a single charge or supply of a dentifrice, either in fluid, paste, or powdered form, as desired, the dentifrice being indicated by the reference numeral 19 in Figures 2 and 5.

'2,7-'9 3,38=l' Patented May 28, 1957 The end 17 of the plug is provided with a plurality of bristles 20 arranged in tufts around the orifice 18 and projecting from the plug end 17 longitudinally of the tube 11. A pair of reinforcing ribs 21 extend along the inner wall of tube 11 on opposite sides thereof and from a point adjacent the diaphragm 13 to a point adjacent the closed end 22 of the tube 11, the closed end of the tube here being shown to be tapering in shape.

During the manufacture of the tube 11, the diaphragm 13 is sealed in the tube end portion to entrap a quantity of air within the tube, although for some purposes it may be desirable to fill the tube with water or other liquid in order to avoid accidental discharge of the dentifrice by expansion of the air in the tube at high altitudes reached by aircraft in case the walls of the tube should be less flexible than the diaphragm.

In use, collapse of the wall of the tube by the application of squeezing pressure will move the diaphragm into the recess to force the dentifrice charge into the area around and within the bristles, as shown in Figure 5.

What is claimed is:

1. A toothbrush comprising a hollow tube fabricated of a flexible material and having one end open and having the other end closed, a flexible diaphragm positioned within said tube inwardly of the open end of said tube and closing said tube and having its boundary engaging an annular rib formed on the inner wall of said tube, a plug supported within said tube open end and having one end thereof adjacent said diaphragm, said plug having a recess extending inwardly of said one end and terminating adjacent the other end thereof, there being a dispensing orifice extending inwardly from the other end of said plug and in communication with said recess, said recess and said diaphragm together forming a chamber for .a charge of dentifrice, a plurality of tufts of bristles arranged about said orifice and projecting from said other end of said plug, said tube upon application of a compressive force thereto causing said diaphragm to move toward said orifice and force said dentifrice charge through said orifice.

2. A toothbrush comprising a hollow tube fabricated of a flexible material and having one end open and having the other end closed, a flexible diaphragm positioned within said tube inwardly of the open end of said tube and closing said tube and having its boundary engaging an annular rib formed on the inner wall of said tube, a plug supported within said tube open end and having one end thereof adjacent said diaphragm, said plug having a recess provided with tapering walls extending inwardly of said one end and terminating adjacent the other end thereof, there being a dispensing orifice extending inwardly from the other end of said plug and in communication with said recess, said recess and said diaphragm together forming a chamber for a charge of dentifrice, a plurality of tufts of bristles arranged about said orifice and projecting from said other end of said plug, said tube upon application of a compressive force thereto causing said diaphragm to move toward said orifice and force said dentifrice charge through said orifice.

3. A toothbrush comprising a hollow tube fabricated of a flexible material and having one end open and having the other end closed, a pair of reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally along the wall of said tube, one on each side thereof, a flexible diaphragm positioned within the tube inwardly of the open end of said tube and having its boundary engaging an annular rib formed on the inner Wall of said tube and closing said tube, a plug supported within said tube open end and having one end thereof adjacent said diaphragm, said plug having a recess extending inwardly of said one end and termi- 3 4 nating adjacent the other end thereof, there being a distoward said orifice and force said dentifrice charge pensing orifice extending inwardly from the other end through said orifice.

of said plug and in communication with said recess, said References Cited in the file of this atent recess; andvsald diaphragm together forming a chamber p for acharge of dentifrice, a plurality of tufts of bristles 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS arranged about said orifice projecting from said other 863,260 Butterfield Aug. 13, 1907 end of said plug, said tube upon application of a corn- 1,650,459 Miele Nov. 22, 1927 pressivc force thereto causing said diaphragm to move 2,111,507 Hogan Mar. 15, 1938 

